Affordable housing overtakes crime as key concern

Affordable housing has now overtaken reducing crime as one of the most important issues for the voting British public, a new opinion survey has found.

While investment for healthcare remained the most popular political priority for 53% of responders, the issue of affordable housing registered second on the list with 31% putting it in their top three priorities, Kantar reported on Wednesday.

CEO for Kantar Public UK Grant Fitzner said: “Political debate in Britain is dominated by Brexit, but outside the Westminster bubble what people care most about are health and affordable housing. The outcome of the next general election may well be determined by which political party best addresses those practical concerns of the British public.”

Kantar’s public opinion monitor found that 31% of responders rank affordable housing in their top three priorities, while crime and social care were voted for by 27% and 26% of participants respectively.

Kantar also reports that high private rent is of importance with 30% expressing concern that they or their family members may be stuck renting privately for the long-term future. The poll found that 27% of private renters expressed doubts in their ability to afford their own homes.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Regardless of age, where they live, or who they vote for - the message is clear, buying is unaffordable and private renting is not fit for purpose in the long-term. People want and need an alternative.

“The government should abandon its dogged focus on homeownership, and instead invest in a large-scale housebuilding programme to radically boost the number of genuinely affordable homes to rent.”

The threat of an automatic presumption in favour of sustainable development in areas where the number of homes being delivered falls below a target is “unhelpful and misguided”, according to the chair of the Local Government Association.

Sajid Javid has warned the government will be “breathing down” the neck of local authorities to make sure they deliver the number of homes their areas need. Houses will forced onto councils in breach of local plans if they fail to comply.

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) have issued a joint call for the government to include a stronger commitment to affordable housing in the update of the National Planning Policy Framework expected next week.

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